Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-01-07
A Man Of the Age.-Sagacity, in

| ties which move and impress this unsen
timental, but wonderful age. The man
who has these attributes of power ac-
complishes his purposes. Such men
build railroads and ships, develop mipes,
rear workshops. create trade, Introduce
new and improved methods of manufac-
turing and agriculture, and build up
the wealth Of the country and the SPLEEN
dor of the city. They are not men OF
shining genius, but of power; and, II
they do not dazzle their generation, their
generation feels their force, their go
and is moulded by them.
We had the pleasure a day or two ago
of meeting one Of this class Of men well
known in New Orleans, and once large
ly identified with its interest, as we
believe he still is to very considerable
extent. We refer to Mr.. Henry Shep-
herd. For several years past this gem
tleman has been only an occasional visi-
tor to our city, his residence being in Vir-
ginia where he purchased splendid
estate which he has steadily improved
until it is now one Of the most valuable
and beautiful country seats in the whole
South. A graphically written descrip-
ton of this model farm, known as the
Wild Goose Farm in West Virginia, we
find in the Martinsburg wv. Va.) Herald
and reproduce elsewhere in the States.
Our Southern planters should study
this description Of Southern farm and
profit by it. Mr.. Shepherd is man Of
wealth, and has been able to carry on
his improvements at a much greater adj
vantage than can men of more limited
means. But the lesson is none the less
valuable in showing the Southern farm
er the true road to wealth, or at least
to independence. Every man cannot
create Wild Goose Farm, but "Wild
Goose Farm" is model for them to'aim
at, and aiming at such, they would have
something more around them than bald
clay or sand hills, tumble-down barns,
dilapidated fences, razor backed hogs
and spawned horses and mules.
At the start, after the war. MI. ;. was
no better off than thousands of our
Southern planters who 60 on growing
poorer every year. The war had com
pletely swept away his fortune as il did
theirs, and left him owing thousands OF
dollars and not cent 10 pay with. But
he was one of the "men of force" He
took in the situation at a glance, rear
ranged the order of his life ; campaign
and marched forward to success, as such
men always do. But it is not his espe-
cial merit that he has made fortune :;
many rogue as well as many an honest
man has done that; but it is to his credit
and honor, amongst all men that he has
paid off large debts, amounting TO many
thousands of dollars, from which he had
been absolutely released By bankrupt
court, settling every just claim against
him to the full satisfaction of every
creditor. Many bankrupt men have re-
established their fortunes, but how
many Of them have ever done this?
1t is pleasant in publishing this note
OF Mr.. Shepherd to recall another fact
illustrative Of his pluck and public
spirit; that is, that in the darkest hour
Of the Nichols government, when its
fate was doubtful and it was without
dollar in its treasury, Mr.. Shepherd
came forward, the first Of the large
property holders, and paid his taxes,
amounting to over twenty thousand dol
lars. The same indomitable pluck, en-
crgy and sagacity which marked this
gentleman's career in this city, have
made him conspicuous in West Virginia
and prompted some of the leading pa
pers there to suggest and insist upon
his being returned to Congress from
that State as the man who can best sub
serve its great material interests in that
body.-Nes Orleans Daily States.